Brave Kim faces years of dialysis before transplant

A teenager suddenly diagnosed with chronic kidney disease who was given a new kidney by her mum is now back on dialysis after the disease returned.

Kimberlee Oosthuizen, 16, who lives in Gilibrand North, Chorley, is now on dialysis three times a week and faces another kidney transplant in a few years.

Kim Oosthuizen with her mum Nikki, showing fo the medals she won at the British Transplant Games

Kim and her mum Nikki want to share their story to highlight awareness of kidney disease and the importance of organ donation.

Kim, who is a pupil at Southlands High School in Chorley, was healthy and well and had no issues with her kidneys until the age of 12.

Mum Nikki, 50, who also has daughters Kayleigh, 26 and Jodie, 21, said: “One day, Kim came downstairs and could not get her shoes on because her ankles were so swollen.

“We went to the GP and Kim had tests and within 24 hours, we discovered she had kidney disease. It was very frightening.”

The transplant was a success but sadly the disease came back just four days later and it has now wiped out Kim’s kidney function again.

Doctors initially thought Kim had nephritic syndrome, which is kidney disease involving inflamation and began treating her for that. However, when she did not respond to steroids, she was transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Kim had a kidney biopsy which revealed she had FSGS with nephritic syndrome (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis), a rare disease that attacks the kidney’s filtering units causing serious scarring which leads to permanent kidney damage and even failure.

Andy Cole, former Manchester United striker has the same disease and had a transplant this year. While New Zeland rugby union champion Jonah Lomu, who died in 2015, had the disease and was awaiting his second transplant.

Kim went on dialysis in June 2015 and her mum and dad were tested as potential donors to give her a kidney.

Nikki, who is a call centre consultant, said: “When it is your child, doubts do not even cross your mind and I desperately wanted to give Kim my kidney.

“My only worry was not being able to donate as you have to undergo so many tests.”

Kim’s mum and dad were both matches for her but Nikki was a closer match.